Russian cellist Rostropovitch dies at 80
{{date|April 28, 2007}}
[[Image:Mstislav Rostropovich 1978.jpg|right|thumb|Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, performing at the White House on September 17, 1978.]]
[[Azerbaijan]]-born [[w:cellist|cellist]] and [[w:Conducting|conductor]] [[w:Mstislav Rostropovich|Mstislav Rostropovich]] (nicknamed ''Slava'', [[Russia]]n for glory) has passed yesterday at age 80, after having been admitted to a [[w:Moscow|Moscow]] hospital in February this year, allegedly for intestinal cancer. The exact cause of death however has not been released. His coffin has been put in the Moscow Conservatory today, and many prominent and thousands of other Russians came to salute him. The cello player only died four days after his friend [[Boris Yeltsin]].

Rostropovich was not only considered to be one of the best cellists in the world, but he also was a symbol of the resistance to the [[w:Soviet Union|Soviet regime]]. In 1970, he provided shelter to [[w:Alexander Solzhenitsyn|Alexander Solzhenitsyn]], whose writings alerted the world to the [[w:Gulag|Gulag]] system of forced labour camps in the Soviet Union. Because of his support for dissidents, Rostropovich fell in disgrace and lost his citizenship in 1978. He was restored during the [[w:Perestroika|perestroika]] reforms.

Rostropovich conducted the [[U.S.]] [[w:National Symphony Orchestra (United States)|National Symphony Orchestra]] from 1977 to 1994. In February, Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] offered him the First Degree in the Order of Service to the Fatherland for his "outstanding contribution to the development of world music and many years of creative activity."

President Putin, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, French PM [[w:Dominique de Villepin|Dominique de Villepin]] and others have already expressed their regrets about the loss of Rostropovich. De Villepin brought to memory Rostropovich's performance at the [[w:Berlin Wall|Berlin Wall]] during it's fall, an image globally broadcasted which earned him international fame.

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapar|Mstislav Rostropovich}}
*{{Translated Wikinews|wiki=fr|language=French|title=Rostropovitch nous a quitté}}
*{{source|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/04/28/MNGF2PHDCM1.DTL
|title=MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH: 1927-2007
|author=Joshua Kosman
|pub=San Francisco Chronicle
|date=April 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2007-04-28T233035Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-296026-1.xml
|title=Mourning of Rostropovich watched over by Bach
|author=Guy Faulconbridge
|pub=Reuters India
|date=April 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/arts/music/27cnd-Rostropovichcnd.html?em&ex=1177905600&en=f828a3018ab9ac52&ei=5087%0A
|title=Mstislav Rostropovich, Cellist and Conductor, Dies at 80
|author=Allan Kozinn
|pub=The New York Times
|date=April 27, 2007}}

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[[Category:Obituaries]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Boris Yeltsin]]
[[Category:Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

[[fr:Rostropovitch nous a quitté]]
[[it:È morto ad 80 anni Mstislav Rostropovich]]
[[pl:Mścisław Rostropowicz nie żyje]]
Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, performing at the White House on September 17, 1978.
Azerbaijan-born cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich (nicknamed Slava, Russian for glory) has passed yesterday at age 80, after having been admitted to a Moscow hospital in February this year, allegedly for intestinal cancer. The exact cause of death however has not been released. His coffin has been put in the Moscow Conservatory today, and many prominent and thousands of other Russians came to salute him. The cello player only died four days after his friend Boris Yeltsin.

Rostropovich was not only considered to be one of the best cellists in the world, but he also was a symbol of the resistance to the Soviet regime. In 1970, he provided shelter to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose writings alerted the world to the Gulag system of forced labour camps in the Soviet Union. Because of his support for dissidents, Rostropovich fell in disgrace and lost his citizenship in 1978. He was restored during the perestroika reforms.

Rostropovich conducted the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1994. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered him the First Degree in the Order of Service to the Fatherland for his "outstanding contribution to the development of world music and many years of creative activity."

President Putin, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, French PM Dominique de Villepin and others have already expressed their regrets about the loss of Rostropovich. De Villepin brought to memory Rostropovich's performance at the Berlin Wall during it's fall, an image globally broadcasted which earned him international fame.
Obituaries Azerbaijan Russia Asia Music Culture and entertainment Boris Yeltsin Soviet Union Classical music